Candidates for Mississippi legislative offices had raised thousands of dollars by the end of the first reporting period Friday, when candidates were required to report contributions and disbursements to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
District 39 Rep. Jeff Smith (R-Columbus) has more than $21,000 cash on hand, despite being outraised by his Republican challenger Dana McLean, according to filings with the secretary of state’s office.
Smith raised $1,000 for the campaign finance reporting period. However, according to his report, he came into the period with $20,358.18. Smith reported no expenditures and a $1,000 donation from Keith Heard, of Columbus, leaving him with $21,358.18 cash on hand.
McLean, of Columbus, reported raising $6,200 during the period. McLean’s money, all of which is itemized, includes a $5,000 donation from Brian Gildea, of Columbus, a $1,000 donation from Roger Burlingame of Columbus and $200 from Robbie Underwood, of Columbus.
She’s spent $310, leaving her with $5,890 cash on hand.
District 39 covers parts of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties.
District 38
The District 38 race leads local legislative contests with $9,500 raised for the campaign.
The race, between incumbent Democrat Cheikh Taylor and Democrat challenger Lisa Wynn, is a rematch of 2017’s special election after former Rep. Tyrone Ellis retired.
Wynn, a former Starkville alderman, leads Taylor with $6,950 in fundraising, according to her campaign finance report submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday. Wynn has spent $3,800 of her campaign money, leaving her with $3,150 cash on hand, according to the report. Her donations are non-itemized. Candidates only have to itemize donations or expenses of more than $200.
Taylor has raised $2,550. According to his filings, the money comes from the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Cornerstone Government Affairs, the Mississippi Public Education Political Action Committee (PAC) and lobbyist Willie Bozeman, of Jackson. He’s spent $1,000 of his campaign funds, leaving him with $1,550 cash on hand.
District 38 includes parts of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties. Taylor and Wynn are from Starkville.
District 37
District 37 Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus) and Libertarian challenger Vicky Rose have raised about $1,500 total, though Chism has more in his war chest at the end of the first reporting period.
Chism only reported raising $250 for the period on a donation from Entergy Mississippi. However, he started the period with $7,745 cash on hand and, after spending $490, has $7,505 left on hand.
Rose, from Hamilton, raised $1,207 for her campaign in non-itemized contributions. She’s spent $488.98 leaving her with $718.02 cash on hand.
District 17 and other races
District 17 Sen. Chuck Younger (R-Columbus) was the only candidate for his seat whose campaign finance filings were available on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office website by Monday morning.
Younger reported raising $2,000 on donations from the Lenders Political Action Committee and First Tower, LLC. He reported $3,620 in expenses. With a started balance of $3,317, Younger reported having $1,697 cash on hand for the end of the period.
Democrat Dewanna Belton and Libertarian Danny Bedwell, who are challenging Younger, did not have reports available on the Secretary of State’s website.
District 15 Sen. Gary Jackson (R-French Camp), who is running unopposed, reported raising $1,250–$1,000 of which is his own money and the rest of which came from J. Dwight Dyess, of West Point. Jackson reported spending $2,895.46 and, with a $3,627.57 starting balance, having $1,982.11 cash on hand for the period.
District 16 Sen. Angela Turner-Ford (D-West Point), who is running unopposed, reported raising no funds and spending $2,128 on non-itemized expenses.
District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson (R-Starkville), who is running unopposed, reported raising no funds and spending $6,468 of a $14,599.38 starting balance, leaving him with $8,131.38.
District 41 Rep. Kabir Karriem (D-Columbus), who is running unopposed, reported no funds raised or spent.
Mississippi 16th Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom, who is running unopposed, reported no funds raised and spending $657.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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